Karl Davydov - Cello Concerto No. 2 in A Minor, Op.14

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Intro : [0:00]
I. Allegro [0:05]
II. Andante [8:51]
III. Allegro con brio [14:00]
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Cello - Wen-Sinn Yang
Latvian National Symphony Orchestra
Conductor: Terje Mikkelsen
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Karl Yulievich Davydov was a Russian cellist of great renown during his time, and described by Pyotr Ilyich Tchaikovsky as the "czar of cellists". He was also a composer, mainly for the cello. His name also appears in various different spellings: Davydov, Davidoff, Davidov, and more, with his first name sometimes written as Charles or Carl. Davydov was well-connected with a great number of the top-tier composers, musicians and nobility. In 1870 Count Wilhorsky, a patron of the arts, presented Davydov with a Stradivarius cello constructed in 1712. This cello, now known as the Davidov Stradivarius, was owned by Jacqueline du Pré until her death and is currently on loan to cellist Yo-Yo Ma. Several composers dedicated works to him, notably Tchaikovsy's Cappricio Italien and Anton Arensky's first piano trio.
Davydov went on to write his still-popular "cello school" book of etudes and technique, completed in 1888, taking the physical limitations into considerations for advancing the possibilities in both the bow hand and playing in the high registers.Davydov died in Moscow on 26 February 1889.